Last Saturday’s beaten N E Manion Cup favourite Mugatoo is set to back up this weekend in the Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.

Mugatoo, above in the blue colours, running second to Young Rascal in the N E Manion Cup is set to back up in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Mugatoo, above in the blue colours, running second to Young Rascal in the N E Manion Cup is set to back up in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Kris Lees trained Mugatoo was sent out as the $1.85 favourite for the Group 3 $160,000 Iron Jack N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill and the punters looked sweet to collect when he loomed up outside of the English stayer Young Rascal at the 300m mark.

But English jockey Tom Marquand had different ideas and under hard riding, the William Haggas trained stayer was able to lift and gain the front again in the run to the line.

Young Rascal ended up half a length ahead of Mugatoo who races in the Australian Bloodstock’s royal blue, black and white colours.

Australian Bloodstock sent out a tweet saying that Mugatoo had pulled up fine and would go around again this week in the Tancred Stakes along with his stablemates Mustajeer, Danceteria and Raheen House.

“Mugatoo lost no admirers on the weekend and is in great shape post his Manion Cup run! Full steam ahead into the Group 1 Tancred Stakes along with his mates Danceteria, Mustajeer & Raheen House,” Australian Bloodstock tweeted.

Mugatoo was unbeaten from his three previous starts for Newcastle trainer Kirs Lees and the English import suffered his first defeat on Australian soil in the N E Manion Cup.

Early betting for the Tancred Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has Mugatoo on the third line of betting at $5 behind the Chris Waller trained Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant at $2.50 and James Cummings’ handy Group 1 performer Avilius at $3.

Verry Elleegant and Avilius finished second and third behind Young Rascal’s stablemate Addeybb in the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

Early betting for the 2020 Tancred Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Verry Elleegant, $3 Avilius, $5 Mugatoo, $6.50 Mustajeer, $7 Mirage Dancer, $8 Southern France, $15 Carif, Danceteria, $17 Youngstar, $21 Angel Of Truth, $31 Raheen House.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.